Lubricator.



H. D. BOYER.

LUBRICATOR.

APPLICATION msn A'Pn. 4. 1916.

Patented Jun. 28, 1919.

V Y l H. D. BUYER.

LUBRlCAOR.

APPLICAHON FILED APR.4,19:6.

Taente 31m. 28, 1919;

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEroE.

HARRISON D. BOYER, OF FERNROGK, PENNSYLVANIA, .ASSIGNOR TO BOYER MANU-FACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION 0F NEW JERSEY; S. STANGER ISZARD,RECEIVER, OF WOODBURY, NEW JERSEY.

LUBRICATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J al1. 28, 1919.

Application led April 4, 1916. Serial No. 88,933.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it lmown that I, HARRISON D. BOYER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Fernrock, in the county of Philadelphia and State ofPennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Lubrioators,of which the following is a specication.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in the method offeeding lubricant to bearings and the devices for carrying the same intoeffect, and has for its object to accomplish this result by driving ahollow plug into the body of the lubricant so as to displace a portionof said lubricant, and thereafter gradually force the displaced portionof the lubricant from the hollow plug, so as to bring about the feedingof the lubricant to the bearing, and a further object of my invention isto provide a simple and effective mechanism for accomplishing thisresult, which is here shown as being especially adapted for the class ofgrease cups known as locomotive grease cups.

With these ends in view, my invention consists in the details ofconstruction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and thenspecifically designated by the `claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this inventionappertains, may understand how to make and use the same, I will describeits construction in detail, referring by numerals to the accompanyingdrawings ing the plunger rod thereof held in place by a cotter pin.

Fig. 4.-, is a plan view of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5, is a side elevation of the cup shown in Fi .v2 and3,7illustrating a slightly modied orm of signal, and also embodying alock to hold the plug against retrograde movement.

Fig. 6, is a plan view of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7, is a broken away section of a portion of the plug and plungerrod, showing a slightly modified form of the means for throwing thesignal.

Fig. 8, is a view similar to Fig. 7 showing a still further modificationof the means for throwing the signal.

Fig. 9, is a View similar to Fig. 7 showing a modified form of signal;and

Fig. 10, is a view similar to Fig. 9, showing a slightly incdified formof the last named signal.

In carrying out my invention as here described, I provide a lubricantreceptacle l, which may be of any desirable design, here shown as agrease cup cast with the strap 2. This receptacle is entirely closed bythe cap 3 with the exception of the feed outlet 4, by which thelubricant is fed to the bearing. Through this cap the plug 5 is screwedso as to be driven into the lubricant which entirely fills the interiorof the receptacle. Within the plug is fitted a spring actuated plungerconsisting of a head 6 formed with the body 7 or secured thereto, apacking 8 and a loose washer 9 slipped over the rod, so as to be forcedagainst the packing by the spring 10.

To the upper end of the body is attached a semaphore signal here shownin the form `of a ring 11, which when the device is in feeding position,will lie out of signal position as shown in Fig. 1, but when the devicehas reached the limit of its feed, will be thrown into signal positionas shown in Fig. 2.

In carrying out my method of feeding lubricant to a bearing by thedevices just described, the receptacle is packed full of grease, the cap3 screwed home after which the plug is driven into the body of thegrease, displacing a portion thereof, the displaced portion of thegrease rising in the `interior of the plug and forcing 'the' spring'actuated plunger upward, thereby vputting a strong spring pressure uponthe entire grease contained within the receptacle,

which pressure will causethe grease to be fed from the receptaclethrough the feed outlet 4 to the bearing, and as this feeding continuesthe plunger will gradually fall,

ejecting the displacedl grease from the plug until at the finishedejection of this grease,`

the semaphore 11 will be thrown into signal position indicating that thedevice needs resetting. To reset the device after the semaphore has beenthrown to signal position, it is only necessary to screw the plugfarther downward, again displacing a portion of the grease within thereceptacle and causing it te rise within the plug.

When the plug has been set and reset until it reaches its lowestposition illustrated in Fig. 2, and the' semaphore has been thrown tosignal position,-vindicating that all of the grease has been ejectedfrom the plug, the plug is backed out of the cap, and that portion ofthe lubricant which has been displaced by the' plug during the varioussettings thereof is replenished by -inserting a fresh supply oflubricant, and in the case of locomotive cups,` here shown, the greaseused is a solid material and consequently a cavity will be left in thecenter of the contents of the cups when the plug is withdrawn,corresponding to the size of the plug, and the replenishing of the cupwill be accomplished by inserting the lubricant in the form of sticks orcartridges as is the present day practice with this class of cups. Afterthe cup has `been replenished the plug is again threaded through the capand forced into the body of the lubricant to displace the same as beforedescribed.

It is tobe noted that the actions of the plug and its plunger can neverfeed the entire contents of the cup to the bearing, and this is afeature of importance in this class of cups, since that portion of thelubricant which cannot be fed by the action of the plug and its plungerforms a reserve of lubricant, which in case of the bearing' be comingunduly heated will be melted to a sufficient extent to permit it to flowtothe bearing,- thus flushing the same and holding its temperaturewithin'the limit of safety.

Heretofore the usualpractice has been to fill this class of cup full ofexceedingly hard grease having a" relatively high melting point anddepending entirely upon the heat generated by the friction of thebearing to partially melt and burn down the lubricant, but whilethis hasproven fairly satisfactory because it proyides for the flushing of thebearing, should it become overheated, yet it has been objectionablebecause the bearing had to rise in temperature to a point tending towear the-bearing, butby my improved method the lubricant is always putagainst the .bearingwithout regard to the temperaturethereof, and yetshould from any cause the bearing unduly increase in temperature thereserve lubricant will be melted and flush the' bearing asin the presentday ractice, Ithus giving a two fold or duplex unctlon to myimprovement. y y

In Figs. 3 and t I have shown the plunger rod 7 as being provided with acotter pin 12 to prevent its ejection from the plug by its spring.

In Figs. 5 and (i I have shown a slightly modified form of semaphoresignal which consists of a U shaped strap 11a, which is pivoted to therod 7 by a cotter pin 13, and this strap is provided with lugs 14 actingcams by which it is caused to rise from out of signal position to signalposition by contact with the top of the plug 5, `as will be readilyunderstood. Also in these last named figures I have shown a means forlocking the plug against retrograde move ment, after it has been set,and this means consists of av spanner wrench 15 pivoted to the cap 3,its nose heilig adapted to latch into theholes 16 formed in the plug.This lock while being shown as forming a aproximately a quarter of acircle around the plug may extend around the same a half circle or more.I

By the use of this form of locking device the necessity for the lock nut17 is obviated and the plug will be lheld more securely againstretrograde movement than is pos sible when a lock nut is used, andthis'is of considerable importance in locomotive work, where the jar andvibration is intense.

In Fig. 7 I have shown a slightly modified form of means for throwingthe ring semaphore to signal position, which consists in substitutingforv the recess 1S shown in the top of the plug in Fig. l, a thimble 19which' fits over the top of the rod 7 having'holes 2 0 therein for thepassageway of the ring 1l. The holes 20 are of sufficient size to permitthe swinging of the ring 11 when moving from one position to another. Asthe rod moves downward the bottom of the thimble will come in contactwith the upper surface of the plug, and any further downward movement ofthe rod will cause the ring to be thrown to signal position as shown inthis ligure. y y

In Fig. 8, the signal throwing device is slightly modified in which casea ring :21. is substituted for the thimble 19, and lies around the rod 7beneath the semaphore 1l, so that the rod falls, it will throw thesemaphore to signal4 position as shown.

In Fig. 9 I have shown a slightly modified i form of signal whichconsists of a member 22 fitted to slide in the top of the rod 7 and intowhich a pin 23 of any desirable shape is secured. the ends of said pinprojecting through the openings 24 in the sides yof the rod, so thatwhen said rod approaches its lowest position, the pin 23 will come incontact with the upper surface of the plug 5, arresting the downwardmovementof the member 22, while permitting the rod a further limitedmovement Which will canse the member 22 to protrude above the top of therod; and in practice this member should be enameled a different colorfrom the rod,

or made of a material of different color such as red, so that whenprojecting above the top of the rod it will signal the fact that the cuphas finished feeding and needs resetting.

In Fig. 10 I have shown a slightly modified form of signal shown in Fig.9 which consists in placing a band 25 or its equivalent around the topof the rod and securing it to the rod by a pin 26 or its equivalent insuch manner as to give 'the collar a limited movement upon the rod.

In this construction when the rod approaches its lowest position thecollar coining in contact with thetop of the plug 5 will be stopped inits downward movement, while the continued downwa-rd movement of the rodwill cause the end of said rod to disappear below the upper surface ofthe collar, thus indicating that the cup needs resetting, and to makethis fact prominent 'I prefer to notch or serrate the upper edge of thecollar as shown. While I have designed and used many other forms ofsignals for lubricators, I deem the herein showing sufficient toillustrate my invention in this respect but do not confine saidinvention to this showing.

I have described my improved devices as standing in a vertical position,but it is obvious that they may stand at any angle, and perform theirfunctions.

Of course I do not wish to be limited to the eXact details ofconstruction as herein shown, as these may be varied within the limitsof the appended claims without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

Havlng thus fully described my invention, What I claim as new anduseful, is

l. In combination with a lubricator casing having a centrally aperturedclosing cap and a basal feed outlet, a hollow plug of relatively lesserdiameter and length removably mounted in said casing, and a springactuated plunger mounted to reciprocate in said hollow plug, whereby thecontained lubricant will be automatically fed under pressure throughsaid basal outlet to the earmg.

2. In combination with a grease cup having an open top and a basal feedoutlet, a hollow plug of relatively lesser diameter and length, meansadapted to close theV top of said casing and to removably support saidplug within the cup, and a spring-actuated plunger mounted to slidinglyreciprocate within said hollow plug and operating to automatically ejectthe contents thereof.

3. A feed mechanism for lubricators having a cap threaded thereon and ahollow plug threaded through the cap in such manner as to be driven intothe body of the contents of the lubricator, a spring actuated plungerfitted in the plug, and a signal connected with the plunger in suchmanner as to be thrown into signal position when the plug needsresetting.

4. A feed mechanism for lubricators having a cap threaded thereon and aplug threaded through the cap, a spring actuated plunger itted to slidein the plug, a rod extending from the plunger to the top of the plug,and a signal attached to the upper end of the rod and adapted to lie outof signal position when the plunger is feeding the lubricant, and bethrown into signal position when the feeding terminates.

5. A feed mechanism for lubricators having a cap threaded thereon and aplug threaded through the cap, a springA actuated plunger fitted toslide in the plug, a rod eX- tending from the plunger to the top of theplug, and means for limiting the downward movement of the rod.

G. In combination with a grease cup, a feed mechanism consisting of ahollow plug threaded through the top of said cup, said plug being ofsmaller diameter than the inside diameter of the cup, whereby a largespace for reserve grease is provided, a spring actuated plunger fittedto slide in the plug and means connected with the plunger for throwing asignal when the grease stops feeding.

`In testimony whereof, I have hereunto aiiiXed my signature in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

, HARRISON D. BOYER.

Witnesses: v

S. S. WILLIAMSON, MoLLm ToBIAs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ive cents elch, 'by addreuingthe. "Commissioner o! Patents,

Wallington, D. 0.

